What is Skype for Business?

September 30, 2015 by Elizabeth Krohn

What is Skype for Business?

Social media and online communication continues to amaze us at every turn.

It seems like every day I wake up and check my phone, there is a new app or advertisement telling me that there is yet another way that I can communicate via the web.

I’m sure that we’re all familiar with the classic social media communications tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Spiceworks, Google+, Snapchat, etc…

Heck, I’m sure we can admit that we use at least one of these on a daily basis, and I’m also sure that we depend on at least one of these to communicate with just about everyone we know.

Do Kids Even Know What a Landline Is?

I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I used classic technology, such as landline, to communicate with anyone.

In fact, most children today have at least a cell phone or a tablet, so I think we can say that the “old school” methods of communication are slowly but surely coming to an end. In the past two decades the world has seen more online communications tools come to life than at any other point in history; one of which is a software communication platform called Skype.

Now, I know, you’re going to say, “Skype has been around for a while now – it’s nothing new,” but let’s stop right there and really think about that.

Yes, the free version of Skype has existed since about 2003, however, around the beginning of this year, a new form of Skype emerged called “Skype for Business”.

So, naturally, questions like, “What is Skype for Business?” and, “What’s the difference between the two?” typically arise; and since I am one of those people who asked, I decided to find out.

Comparing Skype and Skype for Business

Both Skype and Skype for Business are web based software platforms that specifically utilize VoIP communication methods in order to provide clear communicative power via the internet.

The differences between the two are solely these:

Skype (Free Version)

  • It’s Free – simply download the program to your computer, mobile device, tablet, or gaming device to begin using it immediately. (Download Here)
  • Group Calls – you can have up to 25 people on group audio calls at one time – pretty cool, right?
  • Mobile to Landline – make calls from your mobile phone using your Skype app to directly call a landline phone via the internet.

Description of Skype for Business options
Skype for Business

  • Not Free – Skype for Business is now the new name for Microsoft Lync, as Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011; meaning that it is now a part of the Microsoft family and is the new instant communication application that works alongside the Microsoft Office Suite. The cost per user for Skype for Business is only $2.00/mo – which really isn’t much considering what you’re getting.
  • Group Calls – You can meet with up to 250 people via Skype for Business – even if the people you want to meet with don’t have it themselves. All you’d need to provide them with is the call-in number and access information and you’re ready to go.
  • Secure – Skype for Business is protected by strong authentication and encryption methods that provide the security needed to produce and archive private communications. As a Skype for Business provider, you would be able to control your user’s accounts – allowing you to remove subscriptions and enable features that will accommodate any user’s collaboration needs.
  • Reduce Cost – By being able to utilize PBX and/or VoIP phone systems, you will be able to significantly reduce the cost of communication, and also will be able to support services like voice, video, and online conferencing on one, unique platform.

More information about the differences between Skype and Skype for Business can be found on Skype’s Website if you still have more questions, you can even reach out to Microsoft to find out more about Skype for Business’ capabilities.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more information about Skype for Business from VoIP Supply as we begin to unravel its mysteries. Coming soon we’ll discuss how current Microsoft Lync users can transition their current account over to a Skype for Business account.

Customer Spotlight: Honolulu Cookie Company

September 29, 2015 by Nathan Miloszewski

Mike Rehac VoIP Supply Refresh Phone Manager Helps Honolulu Cookie Company

Mike, VoIP Supply Refresh Manager, hoards Honolulu Cookies.

 
Mike Rehac manages the day to day operations of VoIP Supply’s Reclaim and Refresh divisions.

Reclaim is VoIP Supply’s industry leading equipment buyback program, and Refresh is the brand name of our very own like-new, reconditioned VoIP equipment.

Mike assists thousands of customers, helping them trade in their used or excess VoIP hardware for cash or upgraded devices.

(more…)

Practical Applications for Invoxia BYOD VoIP Phones

September 24, 2015 by Nathan Miloszewski

Invoxia One Phone Says It All 5
BYOD, the trend of bringing your own device (laptop, tablet, phone, etc) to your place of employment has now expanded to VoIP connectivity.

French manufacturer Invoxia is making it simple to deploy BYOD VoIP with their line of attractive base units that can turn a smartphone or a VoIP app on a tablet into a desktop VoIP phone with:

  • HD Speakerphone
  • Headset Port
  • Corded Handset
  • and Charging Station

(more…)

VoIP Supply Expanding Beyond Hardware

September 23, 2015 by Jeff Quinn

 

VoIP Supply has been the leading hardware supplier for over 13 years and has truly perfected the buying experience for our customers. We knew we were missing a piece of the puzzle and we have expanded our team to fill the gap for our customers. We are now able to offer you VoIP Service!

CloudSpan Marketplace

We would like to officially introduce to you the CloudSpan Marketplace. “The Marketplace is a single place to shop various cloud service offerings, in order to find the perfect match for their business’s size and needs,” said Wes Mathews, Director of Cloud Services.

 

Here are a few of the benefits when working with the CloudSpan Marketplace:

  • Dedicated VoIP Solutions Specialists at your fingertips
  • Service Providers that are aligned with VoIP Supply’s trusted core values
  • Multiple providers to fit a range of different customer deployments
  • One stop solution for Service and Hardware at VoIP Supply

 

Dedicated VoIP Solution Specialists

Our VoIP Solutions Specialists are educated on multiple service providers to make sure each and every customer is paired correctly. We are confident each and every customer is getting everything they want and only paying for exactly what they need.





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Is Hosted Service Right For You?

Along with all types of call features, remote worker attributes and admin features each service provider we are working with offers the option of SIP trunking or Hosted Service for our customers. A hosted solution takes all the burden off of you, the customer. Let the service provider handle setup, troubleshooting and minimal hardware requirements in your office.

Internet Phone Lines

Also known as SIP Trunks, this could be a solution option for you. These are best suited for someone that would like responsibility for all aspects of their phone system. We suggest this solution for offices with a well versed and sizable IT staff.

 

Contact Us Today

Feel free to give us a call today at 800.305.1427 or email us directly at [email protected]

CloudSpan by VoIP Supply Banner

The bridge that spans from your business to the cloud!

VoIP Supply’s Customer Experience Keeps Improving with New Interactive Demo Lab

September 22, 2015 by Jeff Quinn

We Are VoIP Supply Banner

VoIP Supply is continually growing and striving to make the customer experience better. We wanted to share with you our newest addition to our customer satisfaction tool kit.

The Customer Always Comes First

We have created an interactive demo lab for use by our sales team, tech support team and any customers who would like to visit. We have all types of equipment in our lab from VoIP Headsets, VoIP Phones, IP Paging equipment and also multiple types of IP PBX Appliances.

Check out the video created by our new Video Production Manager, Stephen Lopian.

Our custom tech table was built locally specifically for our Interactive Lab at VoIP Supply.

Tech Support can troubleshoot better than ever

It is great for our tech support team to handle any issues or questions regarding products our customers have. The team is able to mimic your situation here in our lab and create a solution for you correctly and more quickly. It greatly helps troubleshooting for us and creates a better experience for our customers.

Better Pre-Sales Support

For the sales team, it allows them to be hands on with the products. For example, if you’re curious about a certain conference phones microphone range we can give you a call from the model you’re interested in and show you exactly what you’re getting.

Come Visit Us!

We are opening our doors to the public. If you ever find yourself in Buffalo, NY feel free to stop in and check out all of our VoIP products. Just be ready if you’re challenged by our Founder and CEO, Benjamin Sayers, to a game of ping pong in our upstairs lounge!

VoIP Q&A: Cabling Help, Plantronics EHS Cable for Grandstream Phones, and How to Setup PBX with Remote Extensions

September 18, 2015 by Nathan Miloszewski

VoIP Supply Q and A

Our tech support team here at VoIP Supply offers great pre- and post-sale support plus provisioning, consultations, and configuration and installation help.

We get a lot of VoIP hardware and software questions and realized that these solutions should be shared with everyone.

Here now are our top three (real) questions and answers from this past week (from VoIP users just like you).

Need Help with an Installation? We Can Recommend an IT Cabling Company in Your Area

Q: [Customer just bought several new phones from VoIP Supply] For connecting to the network, do they need a hard Ethernet cord connected? Just trying to figure out where we can actually put the phones since our modem is up in the front office as well as our two computers, but we used to have two phones in the back for employees to utilize.

A: Yes, they will need wired Ethernet (Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6) connections.

You can setup your VoIP phones just about anywhere in your office. But, cabling is not the most fun job so if you get stuck, let us know and we can probably recommend an IT company that does cabling in your area.

Which Plantronics EHS Cable for Grandstream VoIP Phones?

Q: The phones that we’re using are the Grandstream GXP2140 and Grandstream GXP2130. When considering a Plantronics Savi W745 headset, what is the correct EHS cable to purchase with it?

A: What you’ll need for those Grandstream phones paired with the Savi W745 wireless headset it the Plantronics APD-80.

Plantronics EHS cable for Grandstream VoIP phones

How to Setup PBX with Remote Extensions?

Q: My business is based in the US and I want to bring analog lines into a PBX locally and then forward those calls to remote extensions overseas. Can this be done with an Elastix appliance or any other solution you have?

A: Yes, it can be done with any VoIP system with VoIP phones. The PBX doesn’t care what IP address the phones are registering from, or if that IP address is local or in another country.

It will send calls to phones on the same LAN, remote phones located throughout the US, or remote phones located around the world, all exactly the same.

They should be warned, however, that the quality of the connection in the foreign country could cause audio quality problems. But technically, there is nothing unusual about this setup.

That’s all for this week, stay tuned for next week’s VoIP Q & A.

Mitel Open Solution SIP Phones for Carlsberg Breweries and Hyatt Hotels

mitel 6800 series sip phones banner

If you haven’t heard the latest news, Mitel acquired Ontario, Canada-based Aastra Technologies, an equally well-known VoIP phone manufacturer.

They did this to offer you a complete open communication solution.

But, as part of the merger, some familiar Aastra phones were either discontinued, replaced, or renamed.

All Aastra products at VoIP Supply have been relabeled and transitioned over to the Mitel brand and you can still find the VoIP products that were formerly under the Aastra label by visiting the Mitel VoIP Supply page.

Now Featuring the Open Solution 6800 Series

We’re currently featuring the Mitel 6800 series, a family of powerful and modern SIP Phones offering advanced interoperability with major IP telephony platforms.

All phones in the 6800 series have a sleek and modern industrial design, HD wideband audio, enhanced speakerphone, and superior audio processing for rich and clear hands-free conversations.

From 2-Lines to 24-Lines

From the 2-line Mitel 6863 SIP phone for light call volumes up to the powerful 24-line Mitel 6869 SIP phone with a large color display for executives, you’re sure to find the right Mitel 6800 Series phone for your business needs.

mitel comparison

Click to download Mitel 6800 series brochure/comparison chart

Case Studies: Carlberg Breweries and Hyatt Hotels

Carlsberg has been using Mitel since 1982 – find out why:

The hospitality industry relies heavily on communication, learn more about why Hyatt is using Mitel in nearly 70% of their North American hotels:

For more information about Mitel products available through VoIP Supply, call 800-398-VoIP or browse all Mitel phones here.

mitel 6800 cta

How BYOD Is Improving Productivity In The Workplace

September 17, 2015 by Elizabeth Krohn

How BYOD Improves Productivity

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I began to hear more and more about the idea of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) for remote workers – and it made total sense. Who wants to carry around two laptops, phones, or even tablets while trying to make the most of their work day?

I feel like some days are hard enough to get done what you need to, and having to add the hassle of carrying around multiple devices to accomplish essentially the same tasks, really leads to a lack of productivity and major frustration for workers who are regularly on-the-go.

How BYOD Improves Productivity

So how can BYOD improve productivity in the work place? I could spout off all the ways that I think BYOD improves productivity, but let’s take a look at what the others have to say. In 2014, Voxer.com wrote an article outlining the different ways that BYOD has increased productivity in the workplace.

They stated that employees average around 120 minutes of extra working time per day, and also end up sending an additional 20 emails per day as a result of BYOD.

They also stated that companies who implement BYOD in the workplace, are 37% more likely to have higher employee satisfaction ratings due to an increase in the ability to utilize out-of-the-box style creativity and problem solving techniques.

73% More Likely to Increase Sales with BYOD

At the end of the article, they concluded that organizations who established BYOD in their workplace were 73% more likely to have increased sales, and also a higher acquisition rate for new customers.

They also stated that, “…54% (of companies) reported a greater ability to bring new products and services to market, and 54% said their companies were more likely to report increased profits.”

So essentially, not only does BYOD make the workday more convenient for employees and is likely to improve their overall happiness, but it also can boost productivity, profit, and business development for the companies that choose to implement it.

What About Security?

Now, there have been some concerns about BYOD with regards to securing these personal devices, but honestly, I believe that this argument has come to an end, as new and always evolving software security programs for phones, tablets, and laptops are being created on a regular basis.

PC Magazine reviews some of the best mobile security software programs today, such as McAfee, Lookout, and Lastpass. So there’s always an option to keep your data secure and accessible.

So, you may be asking yourself, if BYOD actually increases productivity in the workplace, how do I actually go about implementing this? Great question. Our next BOYD blog post will outline the some of the practical applications for two of our BYOD devices – the Invoxia NVX 620 and NVX 220 VoIP Phones.

VoIP Q&A: Ruckus ZoneFlex T300 Coverage and Usage, Headsets for Grandstream GXV3275 IP Android Phone

September 11, 2015 by Nathan Miloszewski

Our tech support team here at VoIP Supply offers great pre- and post-sale support plus provisioning, consultations, and configuration and installation help.

We get a lot of VoIP hardware and software questions and realized that these solutions should be shared with everyone.

Here now are our top real questions and answers from this past week (from VoIP users just like you).

ruckus qa

Q: What is the range of the Ruckus ZoneFlex T300 Outdoor Wireless Access Point? Does it come with software or do I need to purchase software separately? How many users can it support? Does the T300 support IPTV streams?

A:  The Ruckus ZoneFlex T300 Outdoor Wireless Access Point offers dual-band 802.11ac and is rated IP-67 for outdoor environments. The T300 is specifically designed for high traffic public venues such as airports, convention centers, plazas, malls, stadiums, and dense urban environments.

Let’s take your questions one at a time.

T300 Range

According to Ruckus, the maximum distance of the Ruckus T300 is technically 25 km but, 10 km is more realistic. That kind of distance is can be achieved between two Ruckus access points with line of site and directional antennas.

In everyday applications, your maximum distance is determined by your uplink signal, not the access point downlink. A good rule of thumb for the Ruckus T300 is to plan on a distance of less than a football field for optimal coverage assuming moderate usage.

Ruckus T300 omni-directional antenna

T300 Software

All Ruckus access points can run in standalone mode. But, you’ll get a lot more functionality when you use the T300 with a Ruckus ZoneDirector Software Platform.

Ruckus ZoneDirectors are smart wireless LAN controllers with more features than your typical centrally managed system.

ZoneDirector Smart WLAN controllers use a highly-intuitive Web user interface to provide easy configuration and administration

Ruckus ZoneDirector are smart wireless LAN controllers

T300 Max Users

Maximum users for the T300 is rated at:

  • 200 Encrypted
  • 500 Unencrypted

T300 IPTV Support

Yes, the T300 does support IPTV with built in QoS when used with a Ruckus ZoneDirector

For more information, download the Ruckus ZoneFlex T300 Datasheet.

grandstream qa 3275

Q: For the Grandstream GXV3275 phone is it possible to use a USB headset like Logitech with it ?

A: The Grandstream GXV3275, a 6-line multimedia video phone with a 7″ color touch screen, includes dual USB ports.

However these USB ports are for storage and and transferring files to the GXV3275.

GXV3275 Headset Options

The GXV3275 supports:

  • Hands-free Bluetooth headsets
  • Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) with Plantronics Headsets
  • RJ9 Headsets
  • 3.5mm Stereo Headsets with Microphone

For more information, check out the video below or download the Grandstream GXV3275 User Guide.

 

 

That’s all for this week, stay tuned for next week’s VoIP Q & A.

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